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January 2022 Business Talk | 1 |

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Promoting

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We have created a truly special culture that is focused on the wellbeing of our staﬀ and as a result, we have experienced tremendous growth and prosperity over the past few years. The experience has been deeply gratifying. – Bill Johnson

Founder, Chairman, and CEO of The Liberty Company

PEACE OF MIND with GREAT CARE.

BUILDING A UNIQUE CULTURE THAT PERSUADES EXCELLENCE Liberty has established oﬃces across the country by partnering with leaders who ﬁt our culture and are driven by our mission of Promoting Peace of Mind with Great Care and our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Caring, Kindness, Fairness, Teamwork, Good Feelings and Fun! Liberty aims to create value for all stakeholders by managing their risks with great care and providing industry best practices and counsel. As a company, we embrace change and welcome new voices as the best way to thrive and grow.

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From ‘Command & Conquer’ to ‘Collaborate & Grow’, leadership has shifted from an autocratic approach to a more democratic one, fostering learning, teamwork, productivity, innovation, and creativity. Although the goal is to create an influence, leaders of the 21st century are more into self-improvement. They invest in others’ abilities, helping them be more adaptable, committed to purpose, and progressive. Such altruism has also helped in revamping the traditional corporate culture. The business world was stable in the early 2000s, and changes were more gradual. The Internet wasn’t as popular back then, and remote work wasn’t nearly as popular - as it is now. Managers and board members controlled entire corporate ecosystems with little or no input from employees. Cutting to the present, we are in a period of disruption and commercialisation. Change and transformation are inevitable. That is why leaders are more mindful of the effect of technology on business and adaptability. Work no longer comes from above; instead, it is fuelled from within. The fundamental change has opened doors to innovation and creativity, allowing organisations to create a niche. It has also set the stage for a people-centred philosophy and the eternal value of kindness. This helps leaders introspect the distinct personalities of employees and brings the best out of them. Technology has also triggered a change in driving influence. For instance, with remote working, leaders entrust employees to achieve organisational goals without constant monitoring. The trend of empowering rather than constraining employees is critical to 21st-century leadership. Scouting the efficacy of this new era of leadership, Business Talk Magazine is bringing forth a list of ‘Influential Business Leaders of The Year 2021.’ Our editorial team handpicked leaders with unique attributes - who are making an impact in their fields while also empowering their teams.

EDITOR’S C

Sustainability has grown to become a crucial element in leadership influence. Technology and commercialisation are not likely to slow down soon; therefore, the principle of ethical leadership will continue to evolve. As a result, the concept of influential leadership will be centred on the development of future leaders. Young leaders with long-term goals will come up-front with employees having more authority and freedom to make decisions aligned with business’ goals and strategies.

JEETENDRA THAKUR Editor

ALTRUISM AND COLLABORATIONTHE FORTE OF 21ST CENTURY LEADERS

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PUBLISHER HIMANI PARASHAR Managing Editor Rashi Saral

Editorial Contributors

Jeetendra Thakur, Avishek Singh, Shivani Goyal, Harish Kateghar

Creative Head Rahul Kushwaha

Digital Marketing Manager Jatin Shrivastav

Business Head Shubham Mehra

Corporate Team

Shelly Goyal, Himanshi Sharma, Hemant Negi, Ayushi Taneja, Kiran Mishra

Research Analysts

Anmol Bhatia, Harry Dsena

Finance Head

Girdhar Kumar Thakur

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info@businesstalkmagazine.com www.businesstalkmagazine.com Copyright © 2020 Business Talk Media, All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photography or illustrations without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. While the publishers made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein. January 2022 Business Talk | 5 |

Cover Story

Tracy

Valko

PRINCIPAL MORTGAGE BROKER/CVO-FOUNDER VALKO FINANCIAL LTD.

Articles 42

HOW TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS? 10 BEST WAYS TO FOLLOW

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HOW TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF [10 POWERFUL WAYS]

10 BEST LEADERSHIP PODCASTS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW

Contents ATTY. NILO T. DIVINA

BRANDON IVAN PENA

CHRISTINA LÖWENSTRÖM

GRANT FURLANE

PHIL GATTONE

SHEILA KLOEFKORN

MANAGING PARTNER, DIVINALAW

FOUNDER, 787 COFFEE

CEO/FOUNDER, ZEPTAGRAM AB

FOUNDER, CEO & MEMBER OF THE BOARD, LOCOMOBI WORLD

FOUNDER & CEO, NEURISH NETWORKS

CEO/PRESIDENT, KEO MARKETING INC.

January 2022 Business Talk | 7 |

VALKO FINANCIAL LTD. ----------------------------------- 10 DIVINALAW -------------------------------------------------- 16 787 COFFEE -------------------------------------------------- 20 ZEPTAGRAM AB -------------------------------------------- 24 | 8 | Business Talk January 2022

INTERVIEW

WITH BUSINESS TALK

LOCOMOBI WORLD INC. ------------------------------------------ 28 NEURISH NETWORKS ---------------------------------------------- 32 KEO MARKETING INC. ---------------------------------------------- 36

January 2022 Business Talk | 9 |

Tracy Valko A PARADIGM OF ‘WOMEN OF INFLUENCE’ IN THE CANADIAN FINANCIAL REALM

We believe that mental wellness is as important as physical wellness and financial wellness. TRACY VALKO

PRINCIPAL MORTGAGE BROKER/CVO-FOUNDER VALKO FINANCIAL LTD. | 10 | Business Talk January 2022

S T O R Y C O V E R January 2022 Business Talk | 11 |

While we grow and expand, we must hold on dearly to the things that are most important to us

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he Canadian mortgage industry continues to face potent challenges in managing mortgage volumes due to the ongoing pandemic, but the performance of its women leaders and entrepreneurs has been extraordinary. The “new world” imposed on mortgage professionals has forced them to adapt to digital communication with clients and peers while grappling with the complexities of higher house prices, tighter credit limits, and higher qualifying rates. Despite the intricacies, there are women identified as “influential leaders,” setting a fine example for their peers by succeeding in such a competitive environment while ensuring the well-being of their teams and communities. Tracy Valko is an award-winning mortgage industry leader with such biblical attributes. Her prowess, built on 25 years of dedicated service to the mortgage industry, focusing on empowering people. Valko Financial, her brokerage, has been crowned ‘Best New Brokerage (2020)’ by the Mortgage Awards of Excellence. Her ideals of leadership were built during her upbringing. As a child, she watched her mother create and refine positions for women in the banking industry. While her mother was one of the first female branch managers in a well-known Canadian bank, she faced many harsh and unkind realities back then. While the situation was disturbing, Tracy saw it as a godsend. It was sad that women had to work so hard to be noticed, but it made her well-aware of the hurdles ahead and how she would conquer them. Standing upon this learning, Tracy has built a firm foundation for her business. She has been a dedicated and hard-working leader who expects the best of her team. She has made it her life’s work to help as many people as she can by providing them with more choice, more education, support, and ongoing relationships with her clients. Valko Financial is not a transaction-focused business; it is relationship-driven and community-focused.

A PREFACE OF THE FIRM Valko Financial, based in Kitchener, Ontario, places a premium on client relationships, ensuring that they leave in better shape than when they arrived. Its offerings include home purchases, first-time home buying incentives, refinance, renewal, reverse mortgage, debt consolidation, mortgage insurance, commercial mortgages, leasing, as well as video credit coaching, and financial master classes. In doing so, the firm goes beyond just mortgages and focuses on the journey of the client. It also supports community-based initiatives to keep the team engaged where help is needed. “We believe that mental wellness is as important as physical wellness and financial wellness,” says Tracy. By focusing on financial well-being and goals, Tracy and her team have made a sound impact on the region. Their commitment to delivering value to clients and teams through educational programs and initiatives reflects their dedication. Tracy’s upbringing has also aided in the development of her skill set. The struggles her mother had to face and the limitations in financial offerings helped her provide people with authentic and transparent choices that are beneficial. Valko Financial is not tied to one lender or one financial institution and is deeply focused on the long-term interests of its clients.

BALANCED BETWEEN SUCCESS AND PRIORITIES With a heart for clients and communities, Valko Financial is mushrooming in all aspects. But it does so with a balanced approach. “While we grow and expand, we must hold on dearly to the things that are most important to us,” says Tracy. Her firm is built on the principles of honesty, integrity, commitment, and professionalism, which allow it to be meticulous and grow with a focus on quality rather than quantity. A key component of their success is their disciplined routine. They plan, structure, write things down, and schedule specific times for specific things, including rest. This benefits both the firm and the team. “We encourage our teams to stay in their lane—tune out the surrounding noise and just keep going,” Tracy says. They endure hurdles and distractions as they work in a changing landscape, but it’s their focus on the end goal and pure determination to achieve it that counts. Valko Financial comprises attentive and passionate professionals who aim to drive change in their clients’ lives. It is because of this positive attitude they stay committed to long-term relationships, as well as the financial well-being of their stakeholders.

CARVING A NICHE IN FINANCIAL EDUCATION Tracy and her firm’s ‘people-first’ philosophy have helped them build an incredible credit coaching forum for clients and others looking to improve their financial fortitude. At the outset of her entrepreneurship, Tracy saw the need for financial education in the professional realm. This initiative focuses on developing sound financial practices on credit counseling, bankruptcy, and credit repair. In this way, the firm is helping clients who seek to save money, manage budgets, or improve financial literacy. “By helping our clients to help themselves, we empower them to achieve more in the long run than they once thought possible,” asserts Tracy. The firm also has incredibly high standards in education opportunities dedicated to its brokers and agents. TRACY VALKO – A DEDICATED CHANGE BRINGER Tracy is one of the notable financial pioneers to see seismic shifts in the industry. She has spent over 2 decades serving clients across Canada while cultivating relationships in her region. She is an accredited mortgage professional (AMP) member of the Mortgage Professionals Canada (MPC). She served on the MPC board for 3 years as executive secretary and is a champion member and advocate for fair mortgage policies across the country. In addition, her efforts have shaped many characteristic changes, making mortgages a lot more collaborative and kinder. Parallelly, she also complements many changes that benefit leadership and organizational culture. For instance, self-care is duly emphasized to ensure a caring attitude towards everyone, including clients. Also, there is an augmenting playing field for professionals. Tracy affirms, “There are nearly as many women in business as there are men, and women are climbing the corporate ladders faster, for they aren’t afraid to work hard or easily intimidated.” Tracy is a pillar of inspiration, having spent the better part of her life fighting the odds and setting fine examples. Her heartcentered leadership has encouraged people to be more than they are and is the catalyst for her firm’s excellent service. While there is still work to be done, she feels proud to be a part of an ecosystem where powerful individuals are creating a difference. January 2022 Business Talk | 13 |

SPEARHEADING UNANNOUNCED CHALLENGES ‘Being prepared’ has been one of the notable aspects of Tracy’s leadership. It has helped her surmount many challenges throughout her stint, even COVID-19. The pandemic had a dramatic impact on their business model and priorities. They switched to remote work, rearranged their priorities, and now begin each day by “checking in” with themselves, their teammates, and their clients. “We genuinely take the time to ask, “How are you doing?” before we discuss any business,” says Tracy. As they strengthened client relationships to a whole new level of personalized services, they stayed true to their heart-centered approach. Because of the pandemic, they became more scalable and results-oriented, but Tracy believes that their actions outside of business are the real feathers in their cap.

THE VALKO CULTURE “We’ve been calling it #ValkoCulture for some time – a term that was birthed at the beginning of the pandemic,” shares Tracy. Switching gears and shifting to a more flexible model, Tracy and her team have become more focused on each other. The team embraces individual differences and enjoys an environment where everyone can be themselves. It gives them a sense of freedom and allows them to be innovative in dealing with clients. Tracy herself is very passionate about engagements, be it with her team or clients. She is a skilled listener to her team’s requirements and meets them. The metrics of the founder and her team create a vibrant culture within the firm, powered by people with a larger vision.

Creativity is another forte of this firm. Change is the only constant in Valko Financial, and everyone is driven by innovation. They are always on the lookout for fresh ideas and opportunities that can help them improve or scale. The firm also maintains an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach towards decision making. Every team member is involved in critical decisions so that they feel responsible for the company’s success. They openly talk about things that need to be solved within the brokerage (business-related and otherwise) because everyone has different strengths at the table, and ideal solutions often present themselves simply through collaborative discussions, which boosts team morale. The firm is creating an ecosystem based on kindness and acceptance to sail through highs and lows. DEDICATED TO GREATER GOOD Tracy and her team at Valko Financial have won many awards and epithets through the years, but they look at achievements differently. They ponder how many people they’ve helped get their first homes and how many others they’ve coached to improve their financial situation, as well as the number of entrepreneurs they’ve promoted to launch their innovative business ideas. The team has also hosted and participated in staple social events to bring their community together. They contemplate the fund raised for the KW Humane Society, contributions to the food bank, and child and family services. Tracy also includes, “To be named as the Best New Brokerage of 2021 by the Mortgage Professionals of Canada is amazing... but so is giving a kitchen makeover to a single mom whose cupboards are falling off the hinges, or having Santa do an exclusive book reading for our friends at Waterloo Wellington Down Syndrome Society!” Valko Financial has expanded beyond borders, building a strong team of 50 agents, including people, intending to do good for the people and communities. Its moral milestone paves the way for its prospects. The pandemic has been a catalyst for the firm, which helped them uncover opportunities for their clients and teams. “Our focus is on community service and excellence,” affirms Tracy. They will continue to grow as a team and help clients achieve their financial goals while staying true to their relationships and community-focused corporate objectives.

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AN INSPIRING NOTE FROM TRACY VALKO

“Trust your gut! Listen to your intuition! Don’t listen to anything that doesn’t serve you well. Love yourself and those around you. And don’t wait for future opportunities to do great things. ”

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“We are not the traditional law firm, we are dynamic. Our mindset is to always find ways and means, to explore uncharted territory and do everything necessary to deliver superior results to our clients and give them peace of mind, of course, all within the bounds of the law, ethics, and reason.” | 16 | Business Talk January 2022

ATTY. NILO T. DIVINA MANAGING PARTNER

NILO T. DIVINA:

THE AWARD-WINNING LEADER-LAWYER BEHIND DIVINALAW’S METEORIC RISE

“A leader can come from anywhere, but the wisest of them are lawyers.” This is no dogma or doctrine, but a fact we can all agree on. Leaders, coming from legal backgrounds, have shown multiple examples of dispensing ‘Practical Wisdom,’ making them ‘Practical Visionaries.’ They are not adjudged by where they advise but where they decide to make a change. Putting it in another way, they are driving the concept of ‘Lawyers as leaders.’ In this issue, “Influential Business Leaders of the Year 2021,” we proudly feature Atty. Nilo T. Divina, Managing partner of DivinaLaw. His zeal for law and extensive experience in various practice areas has led to his firm’s booming in a brief span, cultivating it as one of the Philippines’ leading law firms.

A CELEBRATED PERSONALITY Be it leadership or legal practice, Nilo T. Divina is a virtuoso of both. He is a seasoned corporate and banking lawyer with over 3 decades of experience. Nilo was the Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of one of the leading banks in the country. Nilo is equally engaged in various roles in academia. He is the Dean of the Faculty of Civil Law at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) since 2009 and teaches at the University of the Philippines College of Law. Nilo is also the former president and chairman of the Philippine Association of Law Schools. He has authored five books in Commercial Law that are primary resource material for law students and lawyers alike.

January 2022 Business Talk | 17 |

In 2006, he ideated DivinaLaw to give his experience and expertise a lucrative shape. Initially, he envisaged it as a boutique law firm, practising in select areas of law and would supplement his income. But one thing led to another, and opportunities arose one after the other, and DivinaLaw morphed into a full-service law firm before he realised it. Over 15 years, his firm has evolved into one of the Philippines’ top law firms. This year, he was included in the Asian Legal Business (ALB) Philippines Client Choice Lawyers’ first list of “10 highly recommended lawyers.” Since 2018, the Asia Business Law Journal has continually ranked him among the Top 100 Lawyers in the Philippines. In a virtual ceremony in November 2021, he was honoured ‘Managing Partner of the Year 2021’ during the Asian Legal Business (ALB) Philippine Law Awards. His leadership, professional triumphs, community development initiatives, and contribution to the firm, the Bench and Bar, and the public were recognized in the award. Nilo asserts, “We are not the traditional law firm, we are dynamic. Our mindset is to always find ways and means, to explore uncharted territory and do everything necessary to deliver superior results to our clients and give them peace of mind, of course, all within the bounds of the law, ethics, and reason.”

AN OVERVIEW OF DIVINALAW DivinaLaw is a full-service legal practice known for proactive and results-oriented services tailored to customer satisfaction. Its expertise is a testament to its resources and accumulated experience backed by professional and collaborative work ethic. Founded by a multifaceted lawyer, DivinaLaw’s expertise encompasses the practice areas of Litigation, Corporate & Special Projects, Labor, Arbitration & Alternative Dispute Resolution, Tax and Estate Planning, Intellectual Property, Immigration and Naturalization, E-Commerce & Technology, Risk & Crisis Management, Legal Education, and Legislative Advocacy & Policy Reform. DivinaLaw has two offices - one in Metro Manila and one in Metro Cebu. It is the sole Philippine member of Lawyers Associated Worldwide (LAW), a consortium of 100 independent law firms from over 50 countries. The firm is also the sole Philippine member of Legalink, a global network of independent legal firms. It has strong partnerships with 11 local law firms in key locations of the Philippines to further enhance its corporate, commercial and arbitration services.

AN AWARD-WINNING CULTURE Starting merely as a small venture, DivinaLaw today is more than just a law firm. In the founder’s words, it’s a battle-ready army for protecting clients’ interests, but also a family with genuine affection and concern for everyone aboard. As mentioned above, DivinaLaw has an extremely robust culture and motivated employees. And while everyone is adaptive to circumstantial adjustments, its leaders prioritize employees’ welfare. “This fosters unity and solidarity between management and staff, which enables us to weather challenges no matter how daunting they may be,” explains Nilo. In honour of their collaborative ethos and efforts, Asian Legal Business magazine has honoured them as ‘Employer of Choice’ for 2018, 2019 and 2021. | 18 | Business Talk January 2022

HONOURED WITH MANY PRESTIGIOUS LAURELS DivinaLaw has set benchmarks in legal practice in the fields of Banking and Finance, Corporate and Commercial, Litigation, Private Equity & Venture Capital, Restructuring and Insolvency which is recognized by Asian Business Law Journal. It has won the ‘Labor and Employment Law Firm of the Year in 2016’ and ‘Immigration Law Firm of the Year in 2018’ in the Asian Legal Business Philippine Law Awards. DivinaLaw was the finalist of the ‘SE Asia Law Firm of the Year,’ category of Southeast Asia Law Awards, in 2018 and 2019. It was also a finalist for ‘Regional Litigation Law Firm of the Year’ in 2018 and 2019 and ‘Tax and Trusts Law Firm of the Year’ in 2019.

DivinaLaw has also won Data Privacy Law Firm — Silver Award in the 2019 Datos Privados Awards of the National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines. Last but not least, it has housed the Silver Anvil from the 54th Anvil Awards of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. ALWAYS READY FOR NEW ENDEAVOURS Sitting upon the results of combined hard work, DivinaLaw is striving to innovate and continue glowing and growing as a business. The firm has a lot in the pipeline that will be uncovered over time. Recently, it has established a financial advisory firm. It’s willing to set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to take advantage of the prospects that the Financial Institution Strategic Transfer (FIST) law will almost certainly offer. This law allows banks and financial institutions to dispose of their bad loans and assets to an SPV, usually for a large discount. Besides these, the firm is investing in technology and constantly working on new and trailblazing ideas. “We hope we continue to dream and gather friends, clients, and hopefully, more accolades along the way. The moment you stop dreaming, you stop growing,” concludes Nilo enthusiastically.

www.designworldmedia.in

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EVERY CUP OF COFFEE YOU SIP REFLECTS THE QUALITY AND LOVE THAT IS PUT INTO IT BRANDON IVAN PENA, FOUNDER OF 787 COFFEE

We waited patiently this time. We saw that many coffee shops were shutting, so we decided to take over. Instead of focusing on the negative, we chose to focus on the good and negotiated eight commercial locations, taking advantage of the numerous empty places.

Because everyone deserves a great coffee experience, ‘787 Coffee’ brings you coffee from the farmlands of the highest mountains of Maricao, Puerto Rico. Hmmm… I believe it is time for a cup of coffee. Coffee is the taste of the world in a cup. One of the most appealing aspects of coffee is that it can be customized to fit any preference. Coffee drinkers of all stripes have their own distinct coffee styles. You will discover a method to enjoy your coffee just the way you want it, whether you want to relax and drink leisurely or get a jolt on the move. Coffee, like the world around it, continues to develop.

‘787 Coffee’ has been addressing coffee enthusiasts’ need for outstanding coffee for decades, driven by the simple belief that everyone deserves a great coffee experience. What distinguishes these individuals is that they produce Coffee beans in order to create coffee of exceptional quality in terms of scent and flavour. Because of its distinct flavour, people from all over the world adore this sort of coffee.

‘787 Coffee’ has expanded rapidly and on a massive scale. Despite their development, they remain committed to its founding idea of “an unwavering devotion to quality.” Brandon Ivan Pena, the CEO, and Founder of 787 Coffee Co. entered the market with farm-to-cup coffee with the goal of humanising brands. The majority of coffee cafes in the United States purchase their beans from a wholesaler. Distributors purchase coffee from all around the world and blend it together. 787 Coffee cuts out the middleman by growing its own coffee on a property in Puerto Rico’s highest highlands. “There are more people consuming coffee than ever before in history, but fewer people working in agriculture than ever before, which poses a difficulty.” Brandon contends. Brandon is promoting people to join hands in growing coffee in the country rather than importing it from other countries, with the goal of doubling farmers’ income and providing employment possibilities for youngsters. January 2022 Business Talk | 21 |

“We consume coffee from other nations 99 percent of the time in the United States. Growing and providing jobs for our local farmers is essential to me, as is providing opportunities for our coworkers to advance within the firm and provide a local product to the community. In the next three years, we want to open 100 coffee shops.” quotes the founder. PERSEVERANCE IS THE KEY TO ALL VICTORIES Life would be meaningless without obstacles, problems, hardships, and challenges.

The ability to persevere in the face of adversity is what makes the firm so successful. As a farm-to-cup coffee firm, the team has to deal with both agricultural and climate changes, as well as economic risks. COVID was a tense period for 787 Coffee, according to Brandon. For three months, the company was shuttered. They were unsure, but Hurricane Maria in 2017 provided them with preparedness because they had previously lost everything when the hurricane devastated their coffee farm. “ We waited patiently this time. We saw that many coffee shops were shutting, so we decided to take over. Instead of focusing on the negative, we chose to focus on the good and negotiated eight commercial locations, taking advantage of the numerous empty places.”

Brandon’s experience as the owner of a coffee plantation has given him a unique perspective on the issues that his coworkers confront in the field. The team is using innovative technologies to reduce the difficulties of farming. Brandon places a high value on the team’s well-being and values their contributions. He is grateful to the crew for working hard hours and putting in their best effort. “We believe in openness, and our goal is for you to know where your coffee comes from and when it was roasted.” Brandon states.

ENSURING THAT YOU LOVE IT TILL THE LAST DROP But how does the firm ascertain that its attempts to provide the best coffee will yield the intended outcomes? It is evident that one will never be able to provide their customers with the finest customer experience if they do not try to find out what they think about the service. Their feedback on their experiences with the brand is valuable information that 787 Coffee utilizes to better tailor their business. “ We ask a lot of questions to both our caffeinated consumers and our caffeinated workforce; they are the face of the firm, so we approach them for input whenever we want to know how they feel about a certain issue.”

LOOKING FORWARD A cup of coffee shared with a buddy is a feeling of delight and good use of time and this will keep growing, feels Brandon. He opines that the love for coffee will only grow from here. He sees plenty of trendy coffee shops with incredible baristas

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that will be extremely unique and creative and push harder than ever before to give you a greater taste. As a result, he sees a lot of development for 787 Coffee and the people that work for it. A MESSAGE TO YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS By being passionate about what you do you become successful, believes the founder.

“My partner, Sam Sepulveda, and I founded this enterprise, not for the sake of riches or glory, but to provide jobs to Puerto Ricco and export one of the world’s greatest coffees. We do what we do because we believe in the people who touch our lives on a daily basis, as well as the wonderful aroma of coffee. I’m infatuated with our company; I learn something new every day, I push hard, yet I still feel like I’m learning nothing. There’s a lot to learn and a lot to do.”

CHRISTINA LÖWENSTRÖM CEO/ FOUNDER OF ZEPTAGRAM AB

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CHRISTINA LÖWENSTRÖM: A BLOCKCHAIN SHENTREPRENEUR EMPOWERING THE UNSUNG MUSICIANS

Blockchain is undoubtedly one of the top revolutionary breakthroughs of this age. Its capabilities extend beyond crypto to healthcare, automotive, government, media and entertainment, and other industries. Blockchain can also protect intellectual property rights and unlock commercial opportunities. Its immutable character is critical to an IP owner since it adds levels of security to an IP’s ownership claim and can grant licenses or collect royalties. In that vein, blockchain is addressing a slew of issues afflicting the music industry. Musicians can receive fair compensation, and record labels can stream and pay artists who contribute to the music. Christina Löwenström, a blockchain pioneer, is helping musicians tokenize their music assets with her unique platform, Zeptagram. Found in 2014, Gothenburg, Sweden, the concept has generated a lot of attention from the corporate sector and the media, highlighting the leader’s and her platform’s power. January 2022 Business Talk | 25 |

Christina was recently interviewed by Business Talk Magazine for its next edition, “Influential Business Leaders of the Year 2021.” As the discussion followed, Christina explained how her platform is assisting artists all around the world in recognising the worth of their passion and work. And how Zeptagram is bringing artists and their followers closer together. The following excerpt provides a complete account of the conversation. TOKENIZING MUSIC RIGHTS: SIMPLE & EASY Zeptagram is a digital marketplace that allows music lovers to invest in music and IP rights in exchange for cash incentives. It helps musicians to trace and tokenize their assets and share ownership with their fans. Investors can invest through its customized currency ‘Zeptacoin’ and receive handsome returns when the music is played on radio, television, streaming platform or used in movies. Zeptagram’s user-friendly system makes investing in music - simple and lucrative. Working closely with musicians and composers around the world, it provides a safe and simple medium to track music copyrights while also providing royalty income to owners. Its efficiency reflects a group of specialists with a worldwide perspective who are passionate about technology, music, and finance. The platform is available as a website, as well as a mobile app for Android and iOS devices. Its trading currency, ‘Zeptacoin,’ has also gained traction and is listed on cryptocurrency exchanges like Bitmart, Bittrex, and Pancake.

BUILT TO EMPOWER CREATORS Zeptagram was born from a vision to revolutionize the music industry. Christina has a background in both music and blockchain, and she has always wanted to explore the intriguing possibilities of blockchain technology. Growing with the changing tides, she has witnessed the dramatic transformation of the music industry on account of innovation, as well as its highs and lows. Her passion has always been to encourage unsung creators, and her platform enables her to do so. Zeptagram offers a holistic platform for artists to make a living from their hard work while focusing on their passion. It uses the DNFT protocol to connect artists’ royalty payments to real-world royalty collection and to use its NFT system for merchandising.

While collecting royalties for certain IP rights can be problematic, Zeptagram strives to create a transparent ecosystem for musicians to monetize their songs and connect with their fans. Sponsors can partner with artists on songs, allowing IP owners to track and collect royalties. Eventually, this creates a strong bond between musicians and music fans, which benefits both parties.

BEHIND THE MIRACLES IS A HAPPY & DRIVEN TEAM There are always geniuses behind an innovative endeavour, and it’s no different with Zeptagram. The idea and vision of empowering artists have driven many young minds, like Christina, to form its team. There is a lot of excitement and promise even in its dynamic environment. The founder believes when people are passionate about what they do, | 26 | Business Talk January 2022

their functionality improves, and so does their productivity. Therefore, Zeptagram as a company has a much-decentralized culture. And it’s like this way before COVID-19 pushed people into work from home. A typical day here starts by communicating with everyone via virtual platforms (Telegram, Zoom, Skype, etc.) and ends with communicating with the team and partners. The team’s passion and dedication gives a closer look at Christina. As a leader, she has always sought an inventive way in her work. While building this team, she has ensured team members are not only skilled but are enthusiastic towards life itself. Their combined efforts and united passion enable Zeptagram to continue cruising toward success while keeping the sails up.

DRIVEN TO GO BEYOND… By providing a digital stage for music to generate value, Zeptagram has lined up many international musicians and composers as clients. On the other hand, it has proved to be a lucrative business whose efficiency reverberates across the trading exchange expanse. “As blockchain pioneers working with DNFTs and NFTs, our successful IPOs and ICOs have led us to Bitmart, Bittrex and Pancake,” explains Christina. She is aiming to position Zeptagram in the stock market with a resounding presence by 2022. Also, she and her team seek to grow on the emerging opportunities and changes of the music industry while staying aligned with their fundamental mission“To offer a fair and transparent platform where they can easily and quickly monetize new or existing songs.”

GRANT A LEADER BEYOND CONVENTIONAL BOUNDS

G ra nt Fu r la n e Founder, CEO & member of the board

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FURLANE: They say, “Leaders are made, not born.” Much like empires, companies come and go, but the deeds of their leaders last a lifetime. Looking back over the last ten years, the business community has become more welcoming. And it was the efforts of business veterans, which transformed the business landscape, paving the way for others. They’ve led companies in innovation, helped people see and believe in a goal, and set an example for their employees. Since digitization, leaders have focused more on refining their business. In fact, keeping technology in the centre, they are redefining the principles of business and leadership. And examples of such idols range from Tim Cook, Elon Musk, Jeff Weiner, etc. While some leaders are wellknown, other technocrats or leaders, despite their global significance, deserve greater recognition. Business Talk Magazine, in this edition, “Influential Business Leaders of the Year 2021,” aims to set the stage for such prolific leaders. This brings us to Grant Furlane, CEO of LocoMobi World Inc. Mr. Furlane is a technocrat and a multi-disciplinary leader whose passion for innovations has set several benchmarks in the industrial circuit. The following read is his story and insight to his company, LocoMobi World Inc., a technology firm defining the smart city vision.

GRANT FURLANE: A TRUE VISIONARY A former President of the Canadian Parking Association, Mr. Furlane is a highly regarded figure in the smart city paradigm. He has over 40 years of experience with specialization in Smart City Transportation, Network Security, Cloud Computing, Loyalty programs and Parking, Transit and Tolling industries. He has worked on technology projects of over $600 Million investments and has led several initiatives for IT magnates. Mr. Furlane has served as the Co-Chairman of the first World Symposium on Intelligent Transportation System. He was a guest contributor of infrastructure at the United Nations congress. Mr. Furlane has also served as Chairman to the Neurological Hospitals Centers for Disability and the Board of Governors of Ontario Junior Hockey. And has investments in the entertainment and sports industries. Moreover, he has strong business ties and investments in China with channels in both import and export.

“It can be a tough route as we do not have the support mechanisms we all turn to when we hit roadblocks, but we learn.” January 2022 Business Talk | 29 |

Parallelly, he is a serial entrepreneur who invests and assists startups to rollout successful executions. He is the brilliant brain behind three transportation technology companies standing at the forefront of vehicle tracking and monitoring. His technology expertise and international scope have enabled his companies to develop integrated control systems for major airports, hospitals, and parking lot management companies. He’s also an expert in Threat Prevention Automation, which combines Artificial Intelligence and Machine Vision.

LOCOMOBI: A DYNAMIC SMART CITY INNOVATOR After an avid period of empowering startups, Mr. Furlane co-founded LocoMobi with two partners. He envisioned a congestion-free world, where people could travel more efficiently and without distress. And his vision turned LocoMobi into an innovative endeavour. The Company specializes in creating disruptive solutions through innovative hardware and cloud-based technology to address emerging Smart city needs. Its offerings are tailored to parking, tolling, transit, storage, asset tracking and threat management sectors. By simultaneously focusing on multiple synergistic industries, LocoMobi is better able to realize its vision of creating fully connected cities globally.

OVERCOMING THE HURDLES Mr. Furlane and his innovative venture tasted the fruits of success through simultaneous endeavours. Putting together a team with the same level of enthusiasm and quality to carry out his vision was difficult at first. Another concern was rolling out products and services in a timely and professional manner. But adapting to a style that addresses the needs of clients and the team itself helped in moving. Mr. Furlane believes that to build a like-minded team, all it needs is listening, a clear understanding of meeting deadlines and the required support to do so. “We like to share our journey, and the keystone has been a skilled listener,” says Mr. Furlane. With a goal-oriented team, it is easier to sell products and services; and the resultant outcome helps in raising capital, cash-flow and further improves execution/delivery plan to overcome bottlenecks and unneeded setbacks.

Working as a team, LocoMobi is constantly looking for new business opportunities to keep investors and strengthen itself by applying new technologies, such as AI, ML, and more. LocoMobi will evolve to serve multiple industries as the global landscape changes, switching from one market to the next. Its ability to adapt has been its biggest companion. It helps in executing strategies and attracting investors by adapting market trends and a robust set of hardware and software - fully integrated into the cloud. WHAT POWERS HIS FORTE Using passion - to build a community, which can welcome more like-minded individuals has been the founder’s greatest achievement. His journey hasn’t been lean, but struggles and sacrifices have helped him stay on track. He believes in teamwork and has welcomed the right financial partners who support and value his vision. For starting a business, it’s common for good ideas to go unnoticed by giant corporations. Mr. Furlane had to chase his dreams and make tough decisions that he had to bear with the consequences of. “It can be a tough route as we do not have the support mechanisms we all turn to when we hit roadblocks, but we learn,” he explains. At an early stage, he used to set goals, reach them and then set new goals. The process | 30 | Business Talk January 2022

motivated him, and as he got older, he looked at solving personal goals with the same approach. He believes personal goals hinder business goals, and solving them will help in managing the rest. He further applied the same approach with his team, balancing their personal and financial needs to meet the ultimate goals. Mr. Furlane sees each team member as his source of motivation. Through LocoMobi, He offers them a path to grow and encourages them–never to stop or give up, just like himself. He also puts effort into instilling creative thinking, giving insight into performance. His company has its own psychologists/ performance coaches, and he sits with them and encourages expression and things they are passionate about.

AN OPEN HEART TOWARDS LIFE “Work is fun, so I think I am always working in my mind.” Stating this, the founder still keeps a welcoming attitude towards life and its opportunities. He loves boating, working out, spending quality time with his family, and most importantly, his Dogs. He also loves helping the less privileged and has chaired many charities and foundations, such as Have a Heart for Down Syndrome and the Children’s Center for Disability. MESSAGE TO ASPIRERS

Be a great listener and then lead with decisions that make sense. Second, you must read. You need to be aware of the work as the world is shrinking with the internet and social media, including how to lead. Information is king. And, of course, get involved in charities and help people as it teaches so much about people and leadership.”– Mr. Grant Furlane

ADGS Deep Technologies made in QATAR

info@adgs.com www.adgs.com

“We turn our challenges into motivation because we’re on a mission, and we’re not stopping until we succeed.” PHIL GATTONE FOUNDER & CEO

| 32 | Business Talk January 2022

PHIL GATTONE: A VISIONARY WITH AN IMPACTFUL INNOVATION There is a famous saying, “A person without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder.” A strong purpose sets a person on a trajectory to create something innovative and impactful. Speaking of which, the purpose of every entrepreneur is to become an influencer in their respective field. Individuals with calling and unbending motivation set directions for others. Their leadership, reputation and credibility directly translate to business success. While there are no clear paths to becoming an influential figure, connecting and engaging with others around a shared goal is a fine idea. A fine example of this notion is Phil Gattone, founder and CEO of Neurish Networks. An electrical and computer engineer, Phil bags over 15 years of experience in software development. He is one of the few leaders in the community who shaped his childhood challenge to aid others. The following piece is his journey to becoming a self-made entrepreneur and how his creation has become a vital component of society.

AN IMPACTFUL & INSPIRING BEGINING Phil had epilepsy since he was a child and had terrible seizures throughout school. His first seizure happened in the middle of a night, which frightened not only him but his parents too. “They thought I was dying,” says Phil. Doctors thought it was just a single occurrence. But, he had multiple seizures; at one point, he was having 300 seizures a day. The disorder had the worse social impact on his childhood. He struggled with things that were normal to his age. He required special aid, and the other kids, not knowing what epilepsy was, made him feel isolated. However, Phil found hope in the embrace of his family (Parents, brothers and sister). Their invaluable support even helped him graduate high school with honours and finish college as well. After graduating in 2009, he moved to the east coast and started developing software for defence contractors and Govt. Organizations. Growing up with this seizure disorder, Phil met thousands of people like him, and very few had the same support as him. Having strong technology background, he found this ambiguity an incredible opportunity for an integrated network to help people with epilepsy. And that is how Neurish Networks came to being. While he had a good share of challenges in bringing his creation to its full potential, Neurish is now on a progressive trajectory and endorsed by many stakeholders, including users and the community at large.

January 2022 Business Talk | 33 |

Neurish Network: A SOCIAL REMEDY FOR EPILEPSY PATIENTS Headquartered in Washington, DC, Neurish provides applications, tools, and software to improve the lives of epilepsy-affected patients, caregivers, friends, and families. It has developed two applications: FriendsWithEpilepsy.com: A social network for epilepsy-affected patients, caregivers, friends, and family. After joining, users can create profiles and connect with other people locally or globally. They can share their experiences and have open discussions with questions and answers from the community. EpilepsyDocs.com: This application allows users to search, rate, and review epilepsy specialists across the country. It has a customized map with locations of epileptologists across the country. All patients can get a second opinion or share their experience in the app. Neurish ultimately aims to build a community where people with this seizure disorder can meet and help each other. The tools provide affected people with the opportunity to find genuine information, find quality care and learn how to thrive. This eventually creates a strong and nurturing support network that can help people with epilepsy live the best version of themselves.

NOT WITHERED BY HURDLES Starting in 2015, Phil and his brainchild had to face its share of hurdles. First was marketing their products and building a user base. Being boot-strapped, it became difficult to invest heavily in marketing and build a firm presence. The second and biggest challenge has been finding a good investor. Neurish initially began through a startup accelerator and pitched their idea to multiple investors in Atlanta, Boston, and San Francisco. By now, Phil formed a team, and they were developing products for Neurish. In 2016, they found a sponsor, a pharmaceutical magnate, who helped them complete their prototype. However, the beta version had too many features, so they redesigned Neurish into an integrated platform for multiple applications. “This gave us much more flexibility and opened further opportunities to expand to other medical conditions,” adjoins Phil.

In 2020, they applied for another accelerator, New Chip, which gave them useful insights into start-up funding, refined their pitch deck and connected with dozens of investors. After graduating from New Chip, Phil and his team have been focusing on raising their seed round of funding. Working with the accelerators, they have created a strong network of stakeholders, including financials, partnerships, clients with a growing user base, which significantly helps in marketing and reaching the audience. Although they are yet to find an investor for the rapid ascent, it doesn’t stop them from growing - on their own. As Phil says proudly, “We turn our challenges into motivation because we’re on a mission, and we’re not stopping until we succeed.”

A CLOSER LOOK AT PHIL GATTONE Phil’s endeavour in mushrooming his brainchild is quite incorrigible. As an entrepreneur and leader, it took great effort to communicate his vision of Neurish. But now, with mentors and advisors on board, he is communicating his vision with a large base. Phil is also very passionate about life. He loves working out and spending quality time with family and friends. The social enthusiasm helps him drive creativity within his company. At Neurish, everyone loves experimenting with ideas from every perspective. They do brainstorming to curate new ideas that can create creative solutions.

IMPACTFUL AND POTENTIALLY COMPETITIVE Besides being impactful, Neurish is a highly competitive platform. Epilepsy is something that affects people and their surrounding community. Although physicians can offer medical treatment, the affected needs to connect socially for complete recovery. This is where Neurish is creating its niche. It connects people and adds significant value to their life and deep impact on the world as well. “I think deep down we all want to leave a mark, which motivates us to keep going; and that, I believe, is what every entrepreneur and investor wants,” explains Phil. He and his team are well researched on the growing digital acquisitions in healthcare and believe this is the best time for Neurish’s growth.

A PARTING NOTE BY THE FOUNDER “Be open to learning and don’t compare yourself to other leaders. Be yourself and develop your own vision while also being open to other’s views and opinions. Finally, make others want to be like you.”

| 34 | Business Talk January 2022

Recently, he got married, and his wife is a major support in growing Neurish. They share a similar vision about the company, and while Phil spends hours on his passion, his wife supports him diligently. In his words, he says, “She has always encouraged me to work hard and is there for me when I am frustrated. She really keeps me going.” He is focused on raising the seed round of funding and looking for investors willing to align with their vision.

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SHEILA KLOEFKORN:

B2B MARKETING EXPERT AND FRACTIONAL CMO DRIVES BUSINESS RESULTS FOR MID-MARKET COMPANIES

The philosophy of marketing has dramatically changed since the 19th-century Great Industrial Revolution. The shift was fueled principally by technology, which has resulted in an exponential number of marketing breakthroughs. Technology has made the marketing process faster, more scalable, and more personalized. While the paradigm shift is has been facilitated by technology, It is crucial to remember that every innovation has a mastermind behind it. For our current edition, “Influential Business Leaders of the Year 2021,” we focus on the business leaders who are setting the benchmarks for success or driving innovative transformations in their respective segments. That is how we connected with Sheila Kloefkorn, a B2B marketing specialist, fractional CMO to mid-market companies, and CEO of KEO Marketing. Her passion for making a meaningful difference in the community and her clients has pushed KEO Marketing to offer custom and scalable marketing solutions to businesses of all sizes. MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF DRIVING RESULTS Sheila is a business growth specialist with nearly 30 years of expertise, assisting businesses in generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and leads. In 2000, she recognized the emerging opportunities in online marketing and how they could support organizational growth. She founded KEO Marketing, setting the stage for it to become a leader in B2B marketing. KEO Marketing is now a full-service B2B marketing agency specializing in marketing strategy, messaging, digital infrastructure, execution, and analytics. For more than two decades, it has set success benchmarks in quality and innovative marketing across the global business landscape. The Agency is based in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, and offers proven marketing programs that generate qualified leads to fill sales pipelines and help mid-market companies scale. | 36 | Business Talk January 2022

Looking at the portfolio of offerings at KEO Marketing, it is apparent the Agency’s offerings have evolved with changing clients’ needs. Sheila started this firm to uncover the exciting opportunities in online marketing, like SEO, and the offerings have expanded over the years.

Digital marketing has advanced to the point where it now requires specialized experts across many disciplines. KEO Marketing offers a team of dynamic content marketing, website development, email marketing, digital advertising, conversion rate optimization, and other experts who provide effective strategies. They know how to adjust when new data security laws come online, or Google’s algorithm changes. The KEO Marketing Team concentrates on evolving approaches to assist clients in connecting with their prospective and current customers. They constantly test out their implementation strategies to ensure they still drive leads and engagement. Sheila is also a part-time Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for companies between $5M and $50M in revenue. Sheila is a trusted leader supported by in-house marketers and her team of specialists for clients who need a seasoned marketer to serve on their executive team. Sheila a fractional CMO, and her Agency team works as an extension of its clients’ executive marketing team. This unique relationship allows cost-conscious companies to scale much faster. Sheila and her team at KEO Marketing consistently bring home awards for their marketing strategy, execution, and results. Sheila was recently named Phoenix Business Journal’s “Top 10 Business Leaders of the Year” and “Top 25 Dynamic Women in Business.” The CEO Magazine featured her as a “Top 20 CEO”. She was named one of “15 Arizonans to watch” by the Arizona Republic. She has received many Stevie® American Business Awards, including “Marketing Campaign of the Year”

“We cover for each other so each person can take vacations and travel as much as they like,” SHEILA KLOEFKORN

CEO/PRESIDENT OF KEO MARKETING INC. AND FRACTIONAL CMO TO MID MARKET COMPANIES

January 2022 Business Talk | 37 |

and “Worldwide Women in Business Award,” in Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations. In 2021, she was named one of MARsum’s “Top 100 Marketing and Advertising Leaders.” Sheila has also served on the boards of directors of various marketing, technology, and civic groups. She is a qualified business coach and a frequent lecturer on different marketing, business, and diversity themes, both nationally and locally.

LEADING TRANSFORMATION WITH TECHNOLOGY Technology has fundamentally changed the way B2B marketing communication happens. It has changed how companies communicate with clients, provide services and sustain relationships. KEO Marketing’s success always pushes it to stay ahead of the curve with technology. From CRM, SEO, and Marketing Automation, KEO Marketing offers a complete suite of marketing programs to personalize communications with prospects and customers. Sheila shared, “These platforms constantly improve and give us opportunities to elevate our results on behalf of our clients.” Innovation is part of KEO Marketing’s DNA. The Agency assesses its clients’ performance every month and constantly looks for new ways to boost growth. KEO Marketing is competitive and always moving clients forward with new ideas. SPECIALISTS ON BOARD While technology is the game-changer, KEO Marketing is nothing without the team that goes above and beyond to keep clients’ results improving month in and month out. Each team member is a specialist with years of digital and traditional marketing experience. The team works collaboratively to drive innovative thinking, creativity, and results. The team is distributed around the US and abroad, with some members based in India, Europe, and Asia. They maintain a flexible environment and connect daily. “We cover for each other so each person can take vacations and travel as much as they like,” adjoins Sheila.

| 38 | Business Talk January 2022

But what keeps them engaged and enthusiastic? A shared sense of purpose, commitment, and well-planned rhythm to their weekly schedule. Monday is a day of reflection and preparation, with time allocated across the team to review clients’ results individually. Then the team gathers on Tuesdays to collaborate. After that preparation is complete, they meet with clients each day, the rest of the week, with a bi-weekly cadence, to show progress and get approval for strategic changes. The team implements these shared strategies and tracks results. From brainstorming across disciplines, building the right concepts, and driving creative thinking and technological innovation, KEO Marketing team members work together with a singular focus on driving results.

DEDICATED TO A PURPOSE Sheila began this journey in 2000 focused on leveraging the internet to advance marketing results. Despite market changes and uncertainties, it is her mindset and determination that ensured the company’s success. She always works to be more positive, confident, and creative to lead her team to deliver the best work. Her commitment to this purpose has rewarded her company with sustainable growth. Many of their clients stay with KEO Marketing for more than a decade, which is rare in the marketing space. On the road ahead, Sheila plans to continue to capitalize on the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is now present in nearly every marketing technology platform. AI allows marketing to scale with personalization and automation. Sheila and her team are constantly testing new technology to help their clients deliver more value to their customers and prospects. PARTING WITH A THOUGHTFUL NOTE

“Show your curiosity and see what you can do. Focus on the results, learn, and don’t be afraid to fail.” – Sheila Kloefkorn

www.rankkeepers.com

HOW TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS? 10 BEST WAYS TO FOLLOW

| 40 | Business Talk January 2022

HOW TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF [10 POWERFUL WAYS]

LE AD ER SHIP & S E LF A PPROAC H

10 BEST LEADERSHIP PODCASTS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW January 2022 Business Talk | 41 |

How to Develop

Leadership 10 Best Ways to Follow

Leadership is an essential function of management that helps maximize efficiency and achieve organizational goals. A requirement for leadership skills is having a natural sense of authority and feeling comfortable in a leadership position. Therefore, we have compiled a few traits that will help you understand how to develop leadership skills. How to Develop Leadership Skills 1. Be passionate about your work It is one of the important things you need to keep in mind if you want to become a leader. When you are passionate about something, you can further motivate others to succeed. Infusing the same desire in other team members can be a fulfilling experience, but it is not going to be easy. Thus, being passionate about your work will help you become one of the best leaders around. 2. Take management and leadership courses. Most leadership skills are all about soft skills. To understand the difference between soft skill and hard skill you have to determine if it can be taught or dissected into various skill levels. However, some soft skills are associated with leadership, and you can teach them through structured learning and short courses. These courses can improve individuals’ awareness of their behaviors and enhance their leadership skills over time. It is one such crucial way that will help you learn how to develop leadership skills. 3. Don’t ignore your strengths. Developing leadership skills usually concentrates on flaws, but don’t forget to build your strengths. Understanding your weaknesses gives you an idea of how you can improve, but a firm knowledge of your innate talent and abilities means you can leverage them for you right now. 4. Look for opportunities every day. As we have mentioned earlier, primarily leadership skills are based on soft skills; you can develop many skills that leaders require every day. For instance, from ordering a coffee at a local cafe to discussing a project in a team meeting, you can sharpen your listening, public speaking, and many other skills associated with leadership.

| 42 | Business Talk January 2022

We have these social interactions most of the time without even thinking and with minimal effort. However, becoming more mindful of them can develop simple skills that go a long way for the most promising leaders. 5. Brush up your hard skills Since team members will look to their leader whenever they feel stuck on a task and don’t understand what to do next, they expect their leaders to provide practical solutions based on their proficiency and expertise. If they cannot or often fail to impress, the team can lose faith in them as a leader. For that reason, a leader must have excellent hard skills and understanding related to the overall project. 6. Make a plan When you have a clear idea of your strengths and weaknesses, you’re prepared to take massive action by developing a plan aligned with your leadership style. For instance, practice effective communication strategies if you feel that poor communication is your weakness. In addition, you’ll start embodying examples of leadership skills to foster success in any endeavor with practice. 7. Personal reflection When you are committed to improving your leadership skills and also considering the methods listed above, in that case, you must incorporate some personal reflection time into your weekly routines. Thus, reflecting on specific situations and how you handle them will allow you to identify improvement areas and what you could have done better.

p Skills? 8. Find a mentor If you have a boss or leader in your life who you would like to learn from, you can request them to mentor you. If they already do this well, it’s likely they have positioned time and thought into leadership and reflected on what works well for them. It is a great way to learn how to develop leadership skills and get feedback on your strengths and weaknesses from somebody who can assist you in working on them.

10. Ability to accept failures Knowing how to recognize successes and failures is an important leadership trait that needs to be nurtured in potential leaders. However, even the most effective, inspiring leaders make mistakes. Hence, the leadership skills development process must include a step where the potential leaders start recognizing errors, admitting them openly, and correcting them.

9. Set goals Even the most promising leaders don’t come up with success out of anywhere. So while developing leadership skills, invest time defining your goals and solidifying them. Developing the right plan and setting noteworthy benchmarks along the way provides you with a map to follow, a methodology that will drive your business through the next week, month, year, and decade.

Conclusion After reading this post on how to develop leadership skills, you may have understood their importance and how you can implement them. We hope you find them useful.

January 2022 Business Talk | 43 |

Standing up for yourself is one of the biggest learnings that everyone should have as it will help you take charge of your life, believe in yourself, and facilitate you to reach for your dreams. However, learning how to stand up for yourself can be deceptive and discomfiting from a social standpoint, but trying and learning to stand up clears your perspectives and helps you in the long run. Therefore, we have compiled 10 simple yet powerful steps to help you learn how to stand for yourself. 10 Ways To Learn How To Stand Up For Yourself 1. MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE FIRST Becoming assertive makes you feel uncomfortable, so let us tell you that you’re not alone. It can be hard to speak up, particularly when you’re used to remaining quiet or going with the flow. But keep in mind that doing so is a positive change, and you do not need to feel bad about it. So, next time when you hesitate, it will help you change your perspective and make you realize that boosting yourself up doesn’t mean that you are putting others down. 2. CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIME TO TALK If something is bothering you, it’s best to talk when the other person is able and ready to listen. So if it is important, it can help you if you find the right time to talk rather than just yelling on the spot. Moreover, setting the right time to chat will be quite helpful to your overall relationship or friendship. 3. BE AWARE OF YOUR BODY LANGUAGE If you fear standing up for yourself, it will help if you pay more attention to your body language, as it will not only boost up your confidence but help you send a clearer message to others. Body language might mean standing up straighter rather than slouching to look more assertive. Also, you can consider having open body language, such as standing with your hands relaxed at your sides, so you seem more receptive to conversation. 4. BE DELIBERATE WITH YOUR WORDS Speaking up for yourself and becoming your voice is the best way for others to understand you and learn how to respond to you. So instead of skirting around the issue or expecting others will read your mind, this might look like saying exactly what you want. 5. MAKE YOURSELF A PRIORITY Thinking about others’ schedules, expectations, and dreams may sound nice. But this habit may leave you feeling worn out and upset while also making it complicated to meet your own needs. Therefore, being a little bit selfish is not a bad thing; it means you are prioritizing yourself wherever | 44 | Business Talk January 2022

HOW TO S FOR YO

[ 10 POWERF

STAND UP OURSELF

FUL WAYS ]

necessary. For example, it might contain putting aside time to do important stuff every day and prioritizing that. 6. LEARN TO SAY “NO” If you always say yes to everything and try to make others happy 24/7, this practice might be difficult to break. But here, you need to create more balance if you want to do so. It’s okay if you say No when it comes to prioritizing yourself. However, once you start feeling comfortable with the word, it’ll become easier for you to stand up for yourself. 7. RESPECT YOURSELF Remember, there is a very close relationship between push-over and low self-esteem, and it will remind you that no one has the right to ignore you, be rude, or restrict your feelings. So keep this in mind wherever you go. 8. PICK YOUR BATTLES Sometimes there will be moments when it is not worth it to stand up for yourself; therefore, knowing the difference is crucial. For instance, it might be a one-time thing that may be someone having a bad day, or maybe it’s something you may want to test and let go of at that moment. if it’s someone who has been in ongoing trouble in your life, then you may have to address it right away. 9. SET BOUNDARIES Boundaries are crucial if you want to stand up for yourself as they also let others know how they should treat you. After all, anything that happens within boundaries you will not tolerate from others. Once these boundaries are fixed (and keep changing over time), you are ready to stand up for yourself 10. STICK TO IT Sometimes you may feel sorry after taking a stand, and this is where you need to resist the urge to apologize. Here, you don’t need to apologize as standing up for yourself doesn’t ensure that your partner, or anyone else, will resonate or accommodate. Still, it does imply that you are clear, specific, and hold to your boundaries and opinions. These are the top 10 ways that will help you learn how to stand for yourself. CONCLUSION After reading this post you may have understood how important it is to express yourself if you want to get respected by others. We hope that you find our post on how to stand up for yourself helpful. January 2022 Business Talk | 45 |

10 BEST

LEADERSHIP PODCASTS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW | 46 | Business Talk January 2022

For successfully running a business, you need strong guidance from the people who are at the helm. Therefore, the best way to get guidance is by listening to podcasts from the most renowned business leaders in the world. In this article, we’ll discuss the top ten leadership podcasts you must subscribe to. Top 10 leadership podcasts are: 1. The Tim Ferriss Show It is one of the most popular leadership podcasts in the world, and it’s simple to see (or hear) why. For every episode, Ferriss questions a guest who’s at the field top and breaks down the techniques and routines they’ve managed to climb there. Ferriss draws from every field for his guests and in an hour and a half, he dives deep into what pushes each of them to excellence.

2. Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders podcasts are extremely helpful. Each episode focuses on a new speaker who has walked on the path to business success. Some of the questions involve how to sustain during startup grind, what you can discover from ‘unicorns’, and how to thrive as a woman in tech. 3. How I Built This In this podcast, Guy Raz talks to founders and innovators and discusses why and how their businesses came to be. Raz concentrates particularly on ideas that lead to new startups. Every episode concentrates on a diverse business and the people who made it possible.

4. Behind the Brilliance Lisa Nicole Bell calls herself an entrepreneur, artist, and snacks lover. Her episodes feature writers tend to be particularly appealing, and when she’s not carrying out interviews, she responds to listeners’ questions during in-depth solo recordings.

5. HBR IdeaCast The Harvard Business Review is a magazine delivered by the university’s subsidiary. It’s a notable publication that covers all kinds of topics including management, finance, strategy, and more. IdeaCast is one of the leadership podcasts that come under the HBR. It focuses on interviewing business leaders, and every episode focuses on a distinct aspect of what makes that guest a success. 6. The Nice Guys on Business Nice Guys talk to startup founders, entrepreneurs, best-selling authors, or other successful, self-made figures. Every guest on their roster is awesome, but even more so is the fact that they issue five new episodes every week. Every episode concentrates on a distinct aspect of business or management that you can improve, which should make The Nice Guys on Business a central fixture in your library.

7. Eat Sleep Work Repeat This leadership podcast concentrates on how you can make use of your time spent on the job and balance it with your life. Host Bruce Daisley interviews several interesting guests, involving entrepreneurs, psychologists, and ‘workplace experts’. They include a range of topics from how to promote meetings to the gig economy.

It’s fantastic to listen if you’re an employee, but even more relevant if you’re a business owner. Studying how others have built their business practices better and further how to boost your leadership skills. 8. StartUp The startUp is one of the rare leadership podcasts. Instead of talking about founders and businessmen, it follows more of a documentary approach. The podcast looks back through history to some of the most exciting periods in the business world. In between documentary episodes, the hosts also get the time to talk to celebrities, famous athletes, and the occasional CEO. If you’re involved in podcasts with fun formats, StartUp is probably the right one for you.

9. Business Wars Every company competes with another. Some of those conflicts are legendary, and Business Wars is all about chronicling the most vicious fights in the arena. Business Wars produce episodes on famous rivalries like Boeing vs Airbus, Facebook vs Snapchat, Ford vs Chevrolet, and many other names. Instead of dedicating a particular episode to each rivalry, they usually create three-to-six-part series. One common critique of this podcast is its dramatizations of historical events. However, it depends upon your personal preferences, Business Wars could make for an excellent listen if you want to discover how to win over your competition. 10. Masters of Scale Masters of Scale is a leadership podcast that talks about the journey, from startup to dominating in your field. The most notable names on the podcast involve Marissa Mayer, Ariana Huffington, and Brian Chesky – all, in their right, leaders of business empires. If you want high-level advice about leading your team to success, Masters of Scale is a masterclass.

Conclusion There are several moving parts to consider while operating a successful business. It’s your responsibility to improve your knowledge so you can promote your brand and its employees. Leadership podcasts present you with an opportunity to listen to some of the best entrepreneurial brains in the world, even when you’re on the go. January 2022 Business Talk | 47 |

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